Here we are again with yet another Italian mainstream music video for the renowned Italian rapper Fabri Fibra featuring the 2017 new pop sensation Thegiornalisti helmed by Tommaso Paradiso.

The music video was shot over the course of two very fun days in Trieste on the northern east side of Italy, close to the Slovakian border. The video uses the harbour area as main exterior setting, a local landmark that was used to replicate some of NY street in Sergio Leone’s classic “Once Upon a Time in America”.

During late spring 2016 I started collaborating with the Royal Central School of Speech and drama ending up delving into directing a couple of scenes and a short film promo, with their cast of talented young actors. It was interesting and refreshing for me to tackle all the filmmaking disciplines involved in making a movie. I directed two short scenes extrapolated from screenplays that already have been made into movies and had to direct two sets of actors I was given for them. Not having been able to cast the actors myself I had to adapt to their style and looks and make the most out of it and with the given material at hand, which was next to nothing as the budget was non-existent. I made a point of not try to recreate the movies in question as it would have been impossible, actor’s physiques aside, by our budget time and equipment. Plus I wanted to give it a go at shaping my own take on the script, without trying to mimic two successful existing films with big movies stars, it wouldn’t have been fair on everybody involved and most importantly it wouldn’t have been fun. During this time I rehearsed with the actors extensively and searched for the right locations and tried to figure out the appropriate camera and lighting style. We didn’t have much but we made the most of it. Having to be a real filmmaker for once was really exciting: directing, lighting, camera operating and then editing, sound mixing and grading was daunting for me and frightening at the same time but it turned out being extremely rewarding. While I was working on those scenes above I was approached by another student, Vanessa Calderon, who asked me to be the cinematographer of the graduation film she was starring in and producing. I agreed and the result is on my my WORKS page, titled Traces of a Soul, it was directed by the lovely Robin Rainsford who can be seen acting on one of the scenes I shot for the school shown below. At the same time Mannini Mokhotu, also acting in one of those scenes, asked me to do a short film promo for her, and lacking director, budget and any other key figure I undertook the task of doing it all myself. The result still makes me extremely proud. Mannini went on making a crowdfunding campaign and filming the whole thing during late summer last year, unfortunately by that time I was shooting on a BBC series and I could not free myself to light it for her. However here is the promo we did in all its glory.

Mannini conceived the idea and stars in it; I directed, shot, edited and graded it; the sound design and mix and graphics were done by Homebrew Film post-house in Cape Town, South Africa and the original song featured at the end was written and performed by the South African band Rheebongs (huge thanks to all of them for the amazing help they gave us, it made a real difference). Enjoy.

2017 has begun with an unexpected job for me, a music video shoot from one of the most renowned and beloved Italian singers: Giorgia. It was my first Italian job in many many years and I welcomed the experience. Upon reconnecting with its director, the Italian music video director Cosimo Alema’, I was asked to join him into this journey. Commissioned by Sony and produced by the director’s companies Borotalco, Bmovie Italia and 99.9 Films through Andrea Biscaro and Fulvio Compagnucci, the video features three separate storylines loosely referring to the song’s lyric interwoven with the artist’s brilliant playback delivery. It was a fun two days shoot, enlightened by the wonderful company of the singer, who’s real persona is all you would hope her to be. A real pleasure.

Cosimo distinctive signature style called for hand held camera with 45º shutter, fast paced editing and use of natural lighting when available. I tried my best to keep it simple while at the same time give justice to Giorgia’s beautiful features.

I consider myself very lucky to have been involved on this production, fist as additional cinematographer for VFX and later as C camera operator. Working with Andrew Dunn, ASC, BSC is great and his tremendous experience seems endless, he is terribly generous with his knowledge and kind but always able to get the best out of you. Amazing.

I have to thank B camera operator/second unit cinematographer Gerry Vasbenter for the opportunity, whose qualities are too many to mention.

Here’s the trailer for Take Down, and Anglo-American production I had the pleasure to do some additional photography for (the shots of the lead running up and down the stairs to the lighthouse with a rope on his shoulders were shot by me). Unfortunately uncredited in the final release, I was in Wales with the guys for a short while. I still remember those steps!

My first foray into professional gimbal operating came as a surprise, when fellow cinematographer the brilliant Ed Rutherford asked me if I could operate my freshly bought Ronin for him. Although I almost always like to operate myself on my on shows I don’t usually do operating for other people (it happened recently for Andrew Dunn on the latest Bridget Jones movie “Bridget Jones Baby”, but that came after I had dome some additional photography for VFX and it was too good an opportunity to pass), but I was eager to test the gimbal on the field and have something high end to show that I had shot with it. I welcomed the opportunity and here’s the result, Ed’s lighting is brilliant and I am pretty satisfied with what I brought to the table.

Just bought myself some nifty new kit: A DJI Ronin full of all sorts of accessories and extras as well as a Easyrig with a lovely Flowcine Serene on top. Will give amazing hire price on those jobs I’m on should the director need it. Check the equipment page for a detailed list of my kit.